Showing posts with label chemicals. Show all posts

Even "Healthy" Foods Can Cause Your Body Grief



Even "Healthy" Foods Can Cause Your Body Grief


In this day and age we know so much more about our relationship to food than our predecessors, and the way we eat and think about food has become almost unrecognizable to our grandparents' generation. One example of this is our awareness of food allergies, a condition that has recently entered the collective consciousness. Most of us know someone who is allergic to such foods as wheat and dairy, and we may even be prone to such an allergy. Understanding how our bodies react to food, and making the necessary adjustments in our diet, can have a profound effect on our whole energy system, and can be the key to shifting our mind into a state of greater clarity! 




When we are continuously exposed to a food that gives us an allergic reaction, we feel lethargic, foggy-headed, or as if we always have a low-grade sinus infection. Other symptoms can include nausea, digestive difficulties, skin problems, and difficulty breathing. Many of us have been fighting these symptoms our whole lives without realizing that getting relief could be as simple as cutting a particular food out of our diet. When we do, we feel as if we are waking up out of a fog, and our whole system, cleared of substances that work against it, benefits. 

Many people see skin improvements, they sleep better, have more energy, and feel able to think more clearly. When we feel less than well, testing ourselves, or getting tested by someone else, for food intolerance's/sensitivities may be a good place to start!  Even common foods such as kale, cranberry, pomegranates, mushrooms, and Romaine lettuce have come up in testing!  If you are interested in learning more please contact me and I will share the food, chemical, herb, mold intolerance/sensitivity testing I offer as a service to my clients! It's a simple blood test and can be done anywhere. I have a mobile blood draw come to you and typically get the results in my inbox in 7-10 days. 




Copyright, 2017, Jackie Mart. For further information about this blog, or Optimum Wellness LLC, contact Jackie Mart at 712.790.5883 or Jackie@OptimumWellnessMN.com. As a holistic nutritionist and lifestyle coach, I will support you in taking steps to a healthier and happier you. My goal is to help you create an art of balance in your life. You will also learn how important balance between primary foods (relationships, physical activity, sleep, career and spirituality) and secondary foods (organic food and whole food) is.






Additives in Pickles?



My motto is: Count chemicals, not calories! If you see an ingredient on a food label that looks suspicious put it back on the shelf, it does not belong in your body!  

A few questionable ingredients in a simple jar of pickles.

Polysorbate 80:

Commercially also known as Tween® 80, it is a non-ionic detergent and emulsifier derived from polyoxylated sorbitol and oleic acid, which is often used in foods. Polysorbate 80 is often used in ice cream to prevent milk proteins from completely coating the fat droplets. This allows them to join together in chains and nets, to hold air in the mixture and provide a firmer texture, holding its shape as the ice cream melts. Polysorbate 80 is also used in commercial pickle products.

Yellow #5:

[Tartrazine] The most widely used color additives in foods (candy, desserts, cereals, soft drinks and dairy products), drugs and cosmetics. Tartrazine appears to cause the most allergic and intolerance reactions of all the azo dyes, particularly amongst those with an aspirin intolerance and asthmatics. Reactions can include anxiety, migraine, clinical depression, blurred vision, itching, rhinitis, urticaria, general weakness, palpitations, and sleep disturbance.

Blue #1:

This blue dye is a derivative of coal-tar and it is used in bottled soft drinks, ice cream, ices, dry drink powders, candy, baked products, cereals, and puddings. It is also found in face powders, other cosmetics and hair colorings. This dye has been a suspect of many allergic reactions.

Natural Flavors:

Each natural flavor may contain up to 100 ingredients, including synthetic chemicals such as the solvent propylene glycol, the preservative BHA, and GMO-derived ingredients (unless organic or Non-GMO Project verified).

The ingredients in natural flavors are considered proprietary and not disclosed either on the label or to a customer who inquires – so you have no clue what is in them.Natural flavors can be derived from anything in nature, including animal parts. The only difference between natural and artificial flavors, is that natural flavors are derived from things found in nature (such as beaver glands).

They can also legally contain naturally occurring “glutamate” by-products that act like MSG, which is an excitotoxin. Excitotoxins make food irresistible to eat but can cause stroke, Alzheimer’s Disease, Parkinson’s Disease, obesity, migraines, fatigue, and depression.Flavors are designed to have addictive qualities and increase food cravings, contributing to what David Kessler (former head of the FDA) calls a “food carnival” in your mouth. They trick your mind into wanting more and more. The Big Food Companies are hijacking your taste buds one by one, and lining their corporate pockets at the same time as we buy more products with these addicting synthesized flavors in them. If you are having increased food cravings while guzzling down drinks full of natural flavors, you may want to take a closer look at what you are drinking.

YOU can be a detective! If you would like more help navigating the grocery store aisles please contact me to set up a grocery store tour at the local grocery store where you shop!

Sources:

www.foodbabe.com 
www.alcat.com

Copyright, 2017, Jackie Mart. For further information about this blog, or Optimum Wellness LLC, contact Jackie Mart at 712.790.5883 or Jackie@OptimumWellnessMN.com. As a holistic nutritionist and lifestyle coach, I will support you in taking steps to a healthier and happier you. My goal is to help you create an art of balance in your life. You will also learn how important balance between primary foods (relationships, physical activity, sleep, career and spirituality) and secondary foods (organic food and whole food) is.

www.OptimumWellnessMN.com



Jackie's Health Tip of the Week 3/26/17



Fragrance

Synthetic fragrances are really bad news! If the fragrances in your personal care products come from an organic, natural source such as essential oils, it will be indicated on the packaging. If the only reference to fragrances on the label is the word “fragrance,” then you need to put that nasty bottle back on the shelf!

The term “fragrance” in the US allows manufacturers to omit any reference to the list of ingredients that they used to create the fragrance. So if “fragrance” is listed on a label, there’s no telling what the product contains! There are over 3,100 chemicals used by the fragrance industry to formulate these suspiciously delicious aromas, and most of them are not very human-friendly.


You can easily avoid fragrances by making your own natural products!  I am having a Natural Facial Care Making Workshop in April.  CLICK HERE for more details and to RSVP!


Copyright, 2017, Jackie Mart. For further information about this blog, or Optimum Wellness LLC, contact Jackie Mart at 712.790.5883 or Jackie@OptimumWellnessMN.com. As a holistic nutritionist and lifestyle coach, I will support you in taking steps to a healthier and happier you. My goal is to help you create an art of balance in your life. You will also learn how important balance between primary foods (relationships, physical activity, sleep, career and spirituality) and secondary foods (organic food and whole food) is.


www.OptimumWellnessMN.com



Jackie's Health Tip of the Week 8/28/16





Copyright, 2016, Jackie Mart. For further information about this blog, or Optimum Wellness LLC, contact Jackie Mart at 712.790.5883 or Jackie@OptimumWellnessMN.com. As a holistic nutritionist and lifestyle coach, I will support you in taking steps to a healthier and happier you. My goal is to help you create an art of balance in your life. You will also learn how important balance between primary foods (relationships, physical activity, sleep, career and spirituality) and secondary foods (organic food and whole food) is.



Feel Energized

Here is another thing I do on a weekly basis for myself!! My Ion Detox Foot Bath! You are probably thinking, "Eww, gross! What is that?!"  For me this is a sign I'm getting the "junk" out of my body!  






With the increase in the number of chemicals introduced in the last fifty years, there has been a dramatic increase in incidences of autoimmune disease, allergies and common infections.

There are tens of thousands of chemicals in use today and more than a fourth of these are known to be toxic and nothing is known about their interactive effects. Body fat has been tested that contains residue of hundreds of chemicals. Metals, such as mercury and cadmium are everywhere and impossible to avoid. Lead can block red blood cell formation.

Chemicals can act as toxins that can block receptor sites on cells, and cause changes in calcium homeostasis selectively killing cells, and alter expression of gene products. Metals and chemical toxins weaken the immune system and cause increased vulnerability to virus, bacterial fungal and parasitic infections. In an attempt to detoxify these substances, our bowels, kidneys and liver are being overloaded.

Our eliminative channels have become blocked or dysfunctional, because, in conjunction with these synthetic chemicals, and the western diet that is so acid forming.

To relieve the strains on the kidneys and liver it is more important than ever to maintain a detoxification regimen. The ion foot bath is designed to relieve these strains and help the body re-balance its energy fields allowing organs to function better! 



There are many benefits of doing this once a week or even a few times a month.  Here are a few benefits of detoxifying the body: 



·    Removes toxins and body waste products that can cause health problems

Heavy metal removal

Faster recovery time from illness, accident or surgery

Reduced inflammation and fluid retention

Enhanced nutrient absorption

Increased oxygen levels and energy

Inactivation of viruses, bacteria, yeast and fungus

Improved sleep and relief from tension

Positive effect on Immune System

Removal of waste products

Helps clear up bad skin

Rejuvenates and energizes your whole body

Positive effect on weight loss (assists in weight loss)

Slows down aging

Seasonal allergy relief

Symptomatic relief from edema, gout, swollen joints, pain and headache.



*Right now until the end of August (I will even extend the offer if you make an appointment in September) the foot bath sessions are reduced from $45 to $35 with a school supply donation. More about my school supply donations here: http://jackieamart.blogspot.com/2016/08/annual-school-supply-drive.html

*Please contact me if you would like to schedule or if you have more questions. 712.790.5883 or Jackie@OptimumWellenssMN.com 






Copyright, 2016, Jackie Mart. For further information about this blog, or Optimum Wellness LLC, contact Jackie Mart at 712.790.5883 or Jackie@OptimumWellnessMN.com. As a holistic nutritionist and lifestyle coach, I will support you in taking steps to a healthier and happier you. My goal is to help you create an art of balance in your life. You will also learn how important balance between primary foods (relationships, physical activity, sleep, career and spirituality) and secondary foods (organic food and whole food) is.







Jackie's Health Tip of the Week 7/3/16






Copyright, 2016, Jackie Mart. For further information about this blog, or Optimum Wellness LLC, contact Jackie Mart at 712.790.5883 or Jackie@OptimumWellnessMN.com. As a holistic nutritionist and lifestyle coach, I will support you in taking steps to a healthier and happier you. My goal is to help you create an art of balance in your life. You will also learn how important balance between primary foods (relationships, physical activity, sleep, career and spirituality) and secondary foods (organic food and whole food) is.

Is Your Makeup "Clean"?



Above is a what you are putting on your skin and getting absorbed into your body if you use conventional makeup!  You literally EAT what you put on your skin. Women bombard themselves daily with chemicals and toxins from the moment they wake up to when they lay down in bed at night.  When you look at the ingredient list on your cosmetics and skin care products you should be able to pronounce and identify what each and every ingredient is. If you don't recognize something it is more than likely a chemical. 

A few signs and symptoms that are linked to chemical and toxin overload: 





*I offer two very affordable detox services including a toxicity assessment where we can pinpoint what toxins you are putting in, on, and around your body.  After your appointment you will walk away less toxic and with a whole list of natural alternatives to use! (I do not sell products, just services, health, and education) :-)  Interested? Please contact me for more information! 712.790.5883 or Jackie@OptimimWellnessMN.com 





Copyright, 2015, Jackie Mart. For further information about this blog, or Optimum Wellness LLC, contact Jackie Mart at 712.790.5883 or Jackie@OptimumWellnessMN.com. As a holistic nutritionist and lifestyle coach, I will support you in taking steps to a healthier and happier you. My goal is to help you create an art of balance in your life. You will also learn how important balance between primary foods (relationships, physical activity, sleep, career and spirituality) and secondary foods (organic food and whole food) is.

www.optimumwellnessmn.com

Simple, Yet Effective

Every time I go into the bathroom at the gym the evil automatic air freshener smell sets me off. It gives me a headache in the 3-5 minutes I am in there! Toxins are sometimes unavoidable unfortunately.  Please pass up the plug-in and spray air fresheners for this! 





Mason Jar Air Freshener


What You Need: 

Small mason jar

1/4 cup baking soda

6-8 drops of your favorite essential oil


Directions: 

Fill the mason jar about 1/4 full with baking soda and add the essential oil. Punch holes in the lid, and place in any spot that could use a little freshening! Every once in awhile give the jar a gentle shake to boost its power.  You can even paint or Modge Podge the jar lid or buy a fancy lid at your local craft store like the ones in my photo! 




Copyright, 2015, Jackie Mart. For further information about this blog, or Optimum Wellness LLC, contact Jackie Mart at 712.790.5883 or Jackie@OptimumWellnessMN.com. As a holistic nutritionist and lifestyle coach, I will support you in taking steps to a healthier and happier you. My goal is to help you create an art of balance in your life. You will also learn how important balance between primary foods (relationships, physical activity, sleep, career and spirituality) and secondary foods (organic food and whole food) is.




More Healthy Apps (for your phone not mouth)



Farmstand- Targets the closest farmers markets in your area. It’s often hard to pin down when a farmers market opens and closes; Farmstand lists times, locations, and shopper reviews.




Fooducate- Use in the grocery store to make healthy choices and avoid chemicals in food.



GoodGuide- Ranks food (and other products, from home goods to apparel) on a health, environment, and society scale of 1 to 10. The app also offers a comprehensive list of certifications awarded to products.



ShopWell- Helps you decide what food products are best for your diet. Based on your personal data (age, weight, gender, and dietary restrictions), the app lists products that will help you meet your goals.




True Foods- Makes it easy for users to search its extensive database of food brands with no genetically modified ingredients. The app also offers tips and tricks on how to avoid G.M. ingredients.

*Want to learn more about how to make healthier choices while shopping? Join my small group grocery store tour Wednesday, January 28th in Uptown Minneapolis. CLICK HERE for more details and to register!   Don't live in the area? CLICK HERE and scroll down to check out the online nutrition packages I offer.



Copyright, 2015, Jackie Mart. For further information about this blog, or Optimum Wellness LLC, contact Jackie Mart at 712.790.5883 or Jackie@OptimumWellnessMN.com. As a holistic nutrition and lifestyle coach, I will support you in taking steps to a healthier and happier you. My goal is to help you create an art of balance in your life. You will also learn how important balance between primary foods (relationships, physical activity, sleep, career and spirituality) and secondary foods (organic food and whole food) is.





Walden Farms- Calorie Free?

One of my clients sent me a message asking about these products because her family buys them so I decided to go to the grocery store and do some research! Here are a few things I found from this company at the local store in the "Health Market" section.





On a quick glance, the company looks impressive, amazing… almost a little too good to be true.

No Calories, Fat, Carbs, Gluten or Sugar of any kind!

From the company website:

Walden Farms irresistibly sweet calorie free specialties are prepared with real fruit extracts, concentrated natural flavors, rich cocoa and other natural ingredients, all sweetened with Splenda. Our savory specialties are made with hundreds of freshly ground herbs and spices, concentrated natural flavors and the finest aged imported and domestic vinegars.

The good news is, they wrote it right on their website. Splenda. Splenda is one of the worst sweeteners you could consume! Google the danger of it and see for yourself!

Save 330 calories a day, 10,000 calories a month and lose 34 lbs a year! -more deceptive marketing claims to draw you in! 

Why would you want to eat a peanut “spread” that doesn't even have peanuts in it? It’s FLAVORED to taste just like natural peanut butter. Sounds natural right?

Their strawberry spread features “strawberry flavor”, “natural flavors”, and cellulose gel  in addition to Splenda. Wouldn't you rather just have real strawberry preserves? The natural sugar in the REAL strawberry preserves might be higher, but its NATURAL sugar… not artificially concocted stuff. Time to get back to eating real food! 

Several of the products have maltodextrin, cellulose gel, several types of vegetable gums and one more little tidbit I learned along the way – only the suggested SERVING size contains no calories, so if you use more, you're getting some calories you might not realize were there! Remember, my motto is: Count chemicals, NOT calories for health! ;-)

Want to learn more? Schedule a grocery store tour or a wellness consultation with me. 712.790.5883


Copyright, 2014, Jackie Mart. For further information about this blog, or Optimum Wellness LLC, contact Jackie Mart at 712.790.5883 or Jackie@OptimumWellnessMN.com. As a holistic nutrition and lifestyle coach, I will support you in taking steps to a healthier and happier you. My goal is to help you create an art of balance in your life. You will also learn how important balance between primary foods (relationships, physical activity, sleep, career and spirituality) and secondary foods (organic food and whole food) is.


www.optimumwellnessmn.com


Gradual Diet Changes

I saw this chart and wanted to share it. Small transitions will prevent you from being overwhelmed when making changes to your diet! (click on it to make it larger)  If you need more help please contact me for a consultation. I'm known for educating my clients and I don't work for or get paid by a higher institution or company. It's just me and my own business! Thank you! :-) 712.790.5883 or Jackie@OptimumWellnessMN.com 






Copyright, 2014, Jackie Mart. For further information about this blog, or Optimum Wellness LLC, contact Jackie Mart at 712.790.5883 or Jackie@OptimumWellnessMN.com. As a holistic nutrition and lifestyle coach, I will support you in taking steps to a healthier and happier you. My goal is to help you create an art of balance in your life. You will also learn how important balance between primary foods (relationships, physical activity, sleep, career and spirituality) and secondary foods (organic food and whole food) is.


ISOCETYL STEARATE, PROPYLENE GLYCOL, STEARIC ACID....What is lurking in your body care products?

One place where toxins and chemicals linger is in our body care products: makeup, shampoos, hair sprays, lotions, toothpastes, deodorants, shave cream, hair gels, perfume, nail polish, makeup removers, sunscreens, and more!

Women can often be more toxic than men because of how much we slather on ourselves on a daily basis! You should be able to literally EAT what you put on your skin! Our skin is our largest organ and will absorb what we put on it.




Check out this database by the Environmental Working Group called Skin Deep. You can even download an app on your smart phone! You can search the products you are using and it will give the products a rating from 0-10 on how safe they are to use and why. A rating with 0 is the best and 10 is the worst. Click on the links below and check them out!

Skin Deep Website

Skin Deep Mobile App

If you want suggestions on what products to use ask me! I use clean products and make some of my own!! 712.790.5883 or Jackie@OptimumWellnessMN.com



Copyright, 2014, Jackie Mart. For further information about this blog, or Optimum Wellness LLC, contact Jackie Mart at 712.790.5883 or Jackie@OptimumWellnessMN.com. As a holistic nutrition and lifestyle coach, I will support you in taking steps to a healthier and happier you. My goal is to help you create an art of balance in your life. You will also learn how important balance between primary foods (relationships, physical activity, sleep, career and spirituality) and secondary foods (organic food and whole food) is.

 

Ask The Nutritionist- Quest Protein Bars

Question:

Hi Jackie! 
What do you think of Quest Protein Bars? Are they okay? Thanks, I respect your knowledge!
-Marcia, Estherville, Iowa.

Answer:

Hi Marcia! I hope you are doing well!  They contain a lot of protein, but are not organic. Some contain sucralose (artificial sweetener) although stevia is also used. The whey protein does not come from grass-fed, antibiotic free cows. And remember any bar like this is still processed and protein isolates can contain MSG.


Here is a list of the ingredients in one:


VANILLA ALMOND CRUNCH

Ingredients:

Protein Blend (Whey Protein Isolate, Milk Protein Isolate), Isomalto-Oligosaccharides* (Prebiotic Fiber), Almonds, Water. Contains less than 2% of the following:Sea Salt, Lo Han Guo, Sucralose, Natural Flavors.


Better choice: LARABARS or here is a recipe I use to make my own! 




Grain-Free No-Bake Cookie Dough Protein Bars

Ingredients:

1/2 c. Garden of Life RAW Vanilla Protein Powder

1/2 c. almond meal

1/2 c. almond butter (make sure ingredients are just almonds and sea salt!)

1/4 c. + 1 tbsp. extra virgin cold-pressed coconut oil

1/4 tsp. sea salt

1/2 tsp.  real vanilla

1/4 c. organic dark chocolate, chopped or you can use cacao nibs

Stir together until well combined. Press the dough into a pan to desired thickness, and freeze for 1-3 hours. Cut into bars, and store in the freezer or the refrigerator.



Copyright, 2014, Jackie Mart. For further information about this blog, or Optimum Wellness LLC, contact Jackie Mart at 712.790.5883 or Jackie@OptimumWellnessMN.com. As a holistic nutrition and lifestyle coach, I will support you in taking steps to a healthier and happier you. My goal is to help you create an art of balance in your life. You will also learn how important balance between primary foods (relationships, physical activity, sleep, career and spirituality) and secondary foods (organic food and whole food) is.


www.optimumwellnessmn.com